110 GAME PRESERVEKS AND BIRD PRESERVERS. 



Yet SO ill had these animals fulfilled their 

 part of 'game preserver/ which as one gentleman 

 tells the Committee is their mission, that these 

 men were out three days with the dogs before 

 they saw a single grouse, and partridges were 

 as nearly extinct. Now fifty brace of either 

 bird may often be seen in a few hours in this 

 country. 



To call an animal a ' bird preserver ' 

 because he will occasionally destroy another 

 animal which in an infinitely less degree also 

 kills birds, seems hardly sound reasoning. 

 Instead of describing polecats, stoats, and 

 weasels as living upon rats we should describe 

 them as living upon birds, hares, and rabbits ; 

 certainly all the summer months, and sometimes 

 killing rats when pressed by hunger. 



Yet another witness draws a sad picture of 

 the loss a farmer suffered who stacked his corn 

 in a corner of a field, hoping that these animals 

 would take care of it, and found it nearly de- 

 stroyed by rats. 



